Privacy zealots file complaints over Gmail
Privacy advocates have been crying since last month, when Google Inc. announced the planned release of Gmail, its free email service, but now one is doing something about it. Privacy International has filed complaints with privacy and data-protection regulators in 16 countries in Europe as well as Canada and Australia, in addition to an earlier filing in the United Kingdom. Gmail offers an unheard-of 1 gigabyte of free storage space in exchange for allowing Google computers to scan emails for keywords to use in sending users targeted advertisements. The service would also store copies of deleted emails. Google officials said Gmail, which is still in test phase, will be in line with data-protection laws worldwide. But Privacy, which has offices in Europe and the United States, reported a long list of breaches of strict European Union laws. Earlier this month Britain’s Information Commissioner’s Officer struck down a complaint filed by Privacy, stating the service is lawful as long as its terms of service are clear. The recent complaints were filed in France, Germany, the Netherlands, Greece, Italy, Ireland, Spain, Czech Republic, Belgium, Denmark, Sweden, Portugal, Poland, Austria, Australia and Canada.

Spam down, spyware still to go for feds
With a slew of spam-busting legislation in its wake, the Federal Trade Commission is set to tackle the newest internet pestilence, spyware. USA Today reported that the FTC met Monday to study possible technical and regulatory responses to spyware, programs secretly imbedded in internet users’ computers to monitor online activities. The most common type is adware, which tracks web travel and feeds data to an advertiser, resulting in pop-up ads. Other spyware can lead to identity theft by stealing steal credit card numbers, passwords or other codes. The FTC already has authority to prosecute spyware used for identity theft. A similar FTC workshop on junk email last year led to a recommendation to pass an anti-spam bill, which Congress did. Spyware comes hand-in-hand with many downloads, including file-sharing programs or screensavers. House and Senate bills would require firms to get clear user consent before completing downloads, identify the pop-up ad supplier and provide an easy out, or uninstall, of the program. The Senate bill is broader, requiring user consent for any software planting. Companies such as Wells Fargo and Hertz are suing spyware firms that show consumers ads from rivals while they are visiting the companies' web sites.

Fastest-growing group on the web: the wealthy
Not surprisingly, it’s the moneyed who are dropping the most dough on better technology. Nielsen//NetRatings released figures Monday reporting that affluent Americans are the fastest growing income group online and show the highest concentration of broadband usage. At-home web users with total household incomes of $150,000 and higher grew 31 percent from March 2003 to March 2004 to nearly 7.9 million individuals. Households earning between $75,000 and $100,000 increased to 26.4 million in March 2004, compared with 20.7 million a year ago. Internet users with upper incomes ranging from $100,000 to $150,000 rose 24 percent since last March. Broadband surfers made up 69 percent of the total audience for those with incomes of $150,000 and up. Those earning between $100,000 and $150,000 split 61/39 in favor of high speed, while households with incomes between $75,000 and $100,000 posted an even split among dial-up and broadband. Nielsen officials cite cost as one of the main factors affecting lower broadband concentrations among middle and lower income users.

Coming soon: Watch movies on paper DVDs 
If CDs seem a little too permanent, try this new technology. Sony Corp. has developed with Toppan Printing Co. Ltd. a paper disc with 25 gigabytes of space that can record more than two hours of high-definition, DVD-quality images. The Blu-ray optical disc is 51 percent paper and can be destroyed with scissors for reliable data security. The technical details will be disclosed today at a conference in Monterey, Calif., but initial details released said Blu-ray technology does not require laser light to pass through, enabling the use of paper in the disc. The Blu-ray is expected to reduce production costs and sale prices, aimed at such devices as high-definition televisions, but a commercial release date has not been reached. Toshiba Corp. and NEC Corp. are also promoting a new format, the High-Definition DVD, which along with Blu-ray is looking to replace traditional DVDs.